Why did anti-semitism arise and how has it been maintained/evolved historically?

Why would people of the current and previous generation be antisemitic?

The answers are connected by not identical. For instance, if you watched Borat, you'll notice one thing Sacha makes fun of is the idea of jews as "devils" or shape shifters (into cockroaches).

This was an actual stereotype of Jews in previous centuries. They have been depicted as having horns.

But most people today will talk about "rich jews" and "greedy jews" which originates from how monarches used to bypass the Catholic churches anti-usury laws by having Jews collect their tax money. This lead to banking, merchant, and intellectual (rabbi/lawyer/doctor) being some of the only jobs available since Jews could not own land.

I highly doubt that today's antisemites are pissed at Jews for being tax collectors several centuries ago. But they ARE antisemits about how greedy jews now control every industry they were forced into (i.e. banking/merchant) hundreds of years ago.

When it comes to individuals, however, antisemitism is usually more explainable in psychological terms. The environment one is raised in along with their feeling of self worth play into prejudiced tendencies, anti-jew or otherwise.

At 12/31/2012 5:20:59 PM, Wnope wrote:Well, there's two questions you could be asking:

Why did anti-semitism arise and how has it been maintained/evolved historically?

Why would people of the current and previous generation be antisemitic?

The answers are connected by not identical. For instance, if you watched Borat, you'll notice one thing Sacha makes fun of is the idea of jews as "devils" or shape shifters (into cockroaches).

This was an actual stereotype of Jews in previous centuries. They have been depicted as having horns.

But most people today will talk about "rich jews" and "greedy jews" which originates from how monarches used to bypass the Catholic churches anti-usury laws by having Jews collect their tax money. This lead to banking, merchant, and intellectual (rabbi/lawyer/doctor) being some of the only jobs available since Jews could not own land.

I highly doubt that today's antisemites are pissed at Jews for being tax collectors several centuries ago. But they ARE antisemits about how greedy jews now control every industry they were forced into (i.e. banking/merchant) hundreds of years ago.

When it comes to individuals, however, antisemitism is usually more explainable in psychological terms. The environment one is raised in along with their feeling of self worth play into prejudiced tendencies, anti-jew or otherwise.

Yeah, I think the current sh*tstorm over Israel is a reminder that anti-Semitism is far from dead. I've heard some truly incredible things from people on this website, even.

"Well, that gives whole new meaning to my assassination. If I was going to die anyway, perhaps I should leave the Bolsheviks' descendants some Christmas cookies instead of breaking their dishes and vodka bottles in their sleep." -Tsar Nicholas II (YYW)

Hitler's best friend was a Jew when he was younger, and he was originally pro Jew. He than began reading anti-Semitic propaganda, and it gave him a scapegoat to blame his failures on. He flunked out of art school, and he fought in WWI. So he blamed the defeat in WWI, and his failed art career on the Jews.

I think of the Jew as like a school geek.Every one hates him just because he's different, smart & successful, & unconventional.

What other theories are there?

They have been a popular scape goat since the Romans blamed them for Jesus's crucifixion. The Romans were responsible for Jesus's crucifixion, but when the empire adopted Christianity as the state religion, they had to find another group to demonize. Jesus was anti-roman, and as a Result was crucified by the Romans; when the Romans adopted the religion, they started demonizing the Jews who 30 years after the crucifixion revolted against the empire.

During the Plague the flagellants continued the antisemitic sentiments, that continued in the Christian population, despite the Church adopting a pro-Jewish stance. The flagellants claimed Rabbis were poisoning wells.

& how do the Jews survive it all?

Tradition!

"Chemical weapons are no different than any other types of weapons."~Lordknukle

Yeah, I think the current sh*tstorm over Israel is a reminder that anti-Semitism is far from dead. I've heard some truly incredible things from people on this website, even.

Blaming the Israel issue on anti-semitism is way over-simplying it imo. Sure, some stuff is rooted in anti-semitism(I have gotten pretty pissed off at anti-semitic anti-israel people myself) but it's definitely not all. Hell, if it was I really doubt anti-israel Jews would even exist.

To me, zionism is just another form of nationalism and I view all forms of nationalism as harmful.

Yeah, I think the current sh*tstorm over Israel is a reminder that anti-Semitism is far from dead. I've heard some truly incredible things from people on this website, even.

Blaming the Israel issue on anti-semitism is way over-simplying it imo. Sure, some stuff is rooted in anti-semitism(I have gotten pretty pissed off at anti-semitic anti-israel people myself) but it's definitely not all. Hell, if it was I really doubt anti-israel Jews would even exist.

There are anti-semitic jews. weird as that sounds.

To me, zionism is just another form of nationalism and I view all forms of nationalism as harmful.

Einstein was also against nationalism.But I doubt a nation could survive without nationalism.

I cannot write in English, because of the treacherous spelling. When I am reading, I only hear it and am unable to remember what the written word looks like."
"Albert Einstein

Yeah, I think the current sh*tstorm over Israel is a reminder that anti-Semitism is far from dead. I've heard some truly incredible things from people on this website, even.

Blaming the Israel issue on anti-semitism is way over-simplying it imo. Sure, some stuff is rooted in anti-semitism(I have gotten pretty pissed off at anti-semitic anti-israel people myself) but it's definitely not all. Hell, if it was I really doubt anti-israel Jews would even exist.

There are anti-semitic jews. weird as that sounds.

To me, zionism is just another form of nationalism and I view all forms of nationalism as harmful.

Einstein was also against nationalism.But I doubt a nation could survive without nationalism.

Judging by your name I'm guessing you're just playing Devil's Advocacy here...

Yeah, I think the current sh*tstorm over Israel is a reminder that anti-Semitism is far from dead. I've heard some truly incredible things from people on this website, even.

Blaming the Israel issue on anti-semitism is way over-simplying it imo. Sure, some stuff is rooted in anti-semitism(I have gotten pretty pissed off at anti-semitic anti-israel people myself) but it's definitely not all. Hell, if it was I really doubt anti-israel Jews would even exist.

Anti-Semitism comes from co-intel pro operatives trying to spread disinformation and blame "Jews" for everything and claim they run Hollywood and run the government. Patently absurd and false claims, but are used to discredit the truth movement. In fact, the ADL itself is a major propagator of anti-Semitism.

There is a difference between criticising the Israeli government or Zionism and being anti-Semitic, even though rightist Jews will tell you otherwise. They even go as far as to describe leftist Jews as "self-hating Jews".

Yeah, I think the current sh*tstorm over Israel is a reminder that anti-Semitism is far from dead. I've heard some truly incredible things from people on this website, even.

Blaming the Israel issue on anti-semitism is way over-simplying it imo. Sure, some stuff is rooted in anti-semitism(I have gotten pretty pissed off at anti-semitic anti-israel people myself) but it's definitely not all. Hell, if it was I really doubt anti-israel Jews would even exist.

There are anti-semitic jews. weird as that sounds.

To me, zionism is just another form of nationalism and I view all forms of nationalism as harmful.

Einstein was also against nationalism.But I doubt a nation could survive without nationalism.

Judging by your name I'm guessing you're just playing Devil's Advocacy here...

Indeed.

I cannot write in English, because of the treacherous spelling. When I am reading, I only hear it and am unable to remember what the written word looks like."
"Albert Einstein

At 1/2/2013 2:42:24 AM, brian_eggleston wrote:There is a difference between criticising the Israeli government or Zionism and being anti-Semitic, even though rightist Jews will tell you otherwise. They even go as far as to describe leftist Jews as "self-hating Jews".

Thus, anti-Semitism is not as common as we are sometimes led to believe.

Certainly in Europe and America there is much more ill-feeling and prejudice shown towards Muslims than Jews.

"Zionism" has been used as a slang for "'evil' Jews" by antisemites, in order to use your argument as a defense. For example, falconduler's plagiarized rants from Stormfront. Another example is the black guy at occupy wall street who claimed "zionist bankers control wall street". Or conspiracy theorists who claim Rothschild is a "Zionist" overlord, who controls the NWO, and that Zionists are in league with Rothchild. Hell, antisemitism seems to be a staple of conspiracy theories; probably because Jews are the most common scape goat in history. Geo, DDO's resident conspiracy nut, went so far as to claim "antisemitism doesn't exist".

"Chemical weapons are no different than any other types of weapons."~Lordknukle

Hmm, kind of an interesting topic when you look deeper. I'm not sure why, but it always seems that the "Jews" have been scapegoats for societies around the world. The most recent one of course being the anti-semetic acts committed during WW2 (Kristelnacht, Holocaust, etc.). One of the least known however, was from 1298-1350 where many "Jews" were blamed for the Black Plague, albeit occurring once again in Germany. While it does not necessarily always boil down to Religion, the Black Plague occurrences were most likely related by not only religious divisions, but the stereotypes formed by the society of the time period.

At 1/2/2013 2:42:24 AM, brian_eggleston wrote:There is a difference between criticising the Israeli government or Zionism and being anti-Semitic, even though rightist Jews will tell you otherwise. They even go as far as to describe leftist Jews as "self-hating Jews".

Thus, anti-Semitism is not as common as we are sometimes led to believe.

Certainly in Europe and America there is much more ill-feeling and prejudice shown towards Muslims than Jews.

Where do people get these ideas from.This opinion is Dead Wrong by a lot:

According to the FBI JEWS are over 5x MORE LIKELY TO BE VICTIMS OF A HATE-CRIME THAN MUSLIMS:

Religious bias:Of the 1,480 victims of an anti-religious hate crime:

63.2 percent were victims of an offender"s anti-Jewish bias.12.5 percent were victims of an anti-Islamic bias.5.7 percent were victims of an anti-Catholic bias.4.4 percent were victims of a bias against groups of individuals of varying religions (anti-multiple religions, group).3.4 percent were victims of an anti-Protestant bias.0.3 percent were victims of an anti-Atheist/Agnostic bias.10.5 percent were victims of a bias against other religions (anti-other religion).(1)

Based on some of your debates & posts you seem to have anti-Semitic leanings yourself. The most recent one was, Calling a group of 20 unarmed Jewish volunteers who patrol their neighborhood, & alert cops, "A Jewish militia".

Most anti-Semites don't think they are anti-Semitic. In their enviornment/upbringing it's concidered the norm. So they only concider those who are even more anti-semitic, to be real anti-semites.Even Falconduler has said numerous times that he's not an anti-semit.

At 1/2/2013 2:42:24 AM, brian_eggleston wrote:There is a difference between criticising the Israeli government or Zionism and being anti-Semitic, even though rightist Jews will tell you otherwise. They even go as far as to describe leftist Jews as "self-hating Jews".

Thus, anti-Semitism is not as common as we are sometimes led to believe.

Certainly in Europe and America there is much more ill-feeling and prejudice shown towards Muslims than Jews.

Where do people get these ideas from.This opinion is Dead Wrong by a lot:

According to the FBI JEWS are over 5x MORE LIKELY TO BE VICTIMS OF A HATE-CRIME THAN MUSLIMS:

Religious bias:Of the 1,480 victims of an anti-religious hate crime:

63.2 percent were victims of an offender"s anti-Jewish bias.12.5 percent were victims of an anti-Islamic bias.5.7 percent were victims of an anti-Catholic bias.4.4 percent were victims of a bias against groups of individuals of varying religions (anti-multiple religions, group).3.4 percent were victims of an anti-Protestant bias.0.3 percent were victims of an anti-Atheist/Agnostic bias.10.5 percent were victims of a bias against other religions (anti-other religion).(1)

Based on some of your debates & posts you seem to have anti-Semitic leanings yourself. The most recent one was, Calling a group of 20 unarmed Jewish volunteers who patrol their neighborhood, & alert cops, "A Jewish militia".

Most anti-Semites don't think they are anti-Semitic. In their enviornment/upbringing it's concidered the norm. So they only concider those who are even more anti-semitic, to be real anti-semites.Even Falconduler has said numerous times that he's not an anti-semit.

At 1/2/2013 2:42:24 AM, brian_eggleston wrote:There is a difference between criticising the Israeli government or Zionism and being anti-Semitic, even though rightist Jews will tell you otherwise. They even go as far as to describe leftist Jews as "self-hating Jews".

Thus, anti-Semitism is not as common as we are sometimes led to believe.

Certainly in Europe and America there is much more ill-feeling and prejudice shown towards Muslims than Jews.

Where do people get these ideas from.This opinion is Dead Wrong by a lot:

According to the FBI JEWS are over 5x MORE LIKELY TO BE VICTIMS OF A HATE-CRIME THAN MUSLIMS:

Religious bias:Of the 1,480 victims of an anti-religious hate crime:

63.2 percent were victims of an offender"s anti-Jewish bias.12.5 percent were victims of an anti-Islamic bias.5.7 percent were victims of an anti-Catholic bias.4.4 percent were victims of a bias against groups of individuals of varying religions (anti-multiple religions, group).3.4 percent were victims of an anti-Protestant bias.0.3 percent were victims of an anti-Atheist/Agnostic bias.10.5 percent were victims of a bias against other religions (anti-other religion).(1)

Based on some of your debates & posts you seem to have anti-Semitic leanings yourself. The most recent one was, Calling a group of 20 unarmed Jewish volunteers who patrol their neighborhood, & alert cops, "A Jewish militia".

Most anti-Semites don't think they are anti-Semitic. In their enviornment/upbringing it's concidered the norm. So they only concider those who are even more anti-semitic, to be real anti-semites.Even Falconduler has said numerous times that he's not an anti-semit.

Muslim inmates comprise 17-20% of the prison population, or roughly 350,000 inmates in 2003. He also claims that 80% of the prisoners who "find faith" while in prison convert to Islam.[86] These converted inmates are mostly African American, with a small but growing Hispanic minority. Waller also asserts that many converts are radicalized by outside Islamist groups linked to terrorism, but other experts suggest that when radicalization does occur it has little to no connection with these outside interests.[87][88][89]

This obviously does not mean that all Muslims are criminals, but it does partially explain the fear.

In reality most of the fear probably comes from people associating Islam with terrorism & violence.

I cannot write in English, because of the treacherous spelling. When I am reading, I only hear it and am unable to remember what the written word looks like."
"Albert Einstein

At 1/2/2013 2:42:24 AM, brian_eggleston wrote:There is a difference between criticising the Israeli government or Zionism and being anti-Semitic, even though rightist Jews will tell you otherwise. They even go as far as to describe leftist Jews as "self-hating Jews".

As an anti-Semite yourself, I can tell you that there are certain differences between anti-Semitism and criticism of Israel and that there are ways to find out which is which.

"Criticizing Israel is not anti-Semitic, and saying so is vile. But singling out Israel for opprobrium and international sanction - - out of all proportion to any other party in the Middle East - - is anti-Semitic, and not saying so is dishonest." -Thomas Friedman

The same goes for making out a Jewish volunteer neighborhood watch to be a Jewish "private militia," or linking criticism of Israel to Jewish beliefs and practices.

"Well, that gives whole new meaning to my assassination. If I was going to die anyway, perhaps I should leave the Bolsheviks' descendants some Christmas cookies instead of breaking their dishes and vodka bottles in their sleep." -Tsar Nicholas II (YYW)